Canadian native community bans alcohol

TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian aboriginal community has
narrowly voted to ban alcohol in the village, a decision that
comes just days after two toddlers on an Indian reserve froze
to death in an incident in which alcohol is believed to have
been a factor.

On Thursday night, the Innu First Nation in Newfoundland
voted 76-74 to ban the sale, distribution or possession of
alcohol in an attempt to stop the bootlegging business that has
been blamed for the poverty and social problems of the small
community on Canada's Atlantic coast.

While alcohol is not sold on the reserve, some members
either make their own or bring it in from nearby communities
and sell it for a large profit.

"We've been seeing so many bootleggers here in the
community and they make thousands and thousands of dollars,"
said Katie Rich, assistant to the chief of the reserve's band
counsel.

"And those parents that are drinking ... that money should
have been going to the children to buy food for them."

Earlier this week, two toddlers were found frozen to death
on the Yellow Quill First Nation Indian reserve in the Prairie
province of Saskatchewan.

Their father left his home with the children, who were
dressed only in diapers and light shirts, on a bitterly cold
night when temperatures dropped below -35 degrees Celsius (-31
degrees Fahrenheit).

The man arrived at a neighbor's home about four hours later
with severe frostbite and hypothermia, and was taken to
hospital. The children were later found dead in the snow.

Media reports have said the father, who is now under
investigation by police, was intoxicated at the time.
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